The 2008 Canada rugby union tour of Europe was a series of matches played in November 2008 in Europe by Canada national rugby union team. Canadian won only the first match against Portugal, and lost the other three.

1.
Portugal national rugby union team
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The Portugal national rugby union team is the rugby union side representing Portugal at international level. They are rated as a team in the new IRB four-band classification system. Portugal had their first match in 1935 and now compete in the European Nations Cup, the team as well as all rugby union in Portugal is administered by the Federação Portuguesa de Rugby. Portugal qualified for their first Rugby World Cup in 2007 where they were grouped in Pool C along with New Zealand, Italy, Romania and they are nicknamed Os Lobos, Portuguese for The Wolves. Portugal have experienced modest success in recent years and they have qualified to the 2007 World Cup in France and although they lost all their matches they managed to score one try in all their games and led the score against Romania until the late minutes. Portugal were the winners of the 2003–04 European Nations Cup. The IRB Sevens World Series circuit has allowed the Portuguese players to improve their game, in 2006–07 Portugal competed at every IRB sevens event for the first time. Portugal played their first ever international in April 1935 against Spain. Portugal lost the game by a point, 6–5. They played Spain again the year with Spain winning 16–9. Portugal had more competition from the mid-1960s, and won their first game in 1966. Portugal played Italy for the first time in 1967, losing 6–3 and they also had their first match against Romania soon after and lost by 40 points. They defeated Belgium in 1968, and also played Morocco for the first time, the first game of the 1970s turned out to be a draw against the Netherlands. Portugal managed to draw with Italy in 1972 and following that, after a number of mixed results throughout the early 1970s, Portugal won five matches in a row from 1979 through to 1981. They played Morocco, who won the encounter, after a 1983 draw against Spain, Portugal managed a seven-game winning streak from 1984 to 1985, including wins over Belgium, Denmark, Morocco, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Zimbabwe. The first Rugby World Cup was held in 1987, though it was by invitation, from 1989 to 1990, the 1991 World Cup qualifiers were held for the European nations. Portugal started in Round 2b in October 1989 and they defeated Czechoslovakia 15 to 13 in Ricant to advance to Round 2c. However here they were defeated by the Netherlands 32–3 and eliminated from qualifying, Portugal again participated in the 1995 World Cup qualifying competition for European teams, starting in Round 1

2.
Ireland national rugby union team
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The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship, which they have won twelve times outright, the team also competes every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions. Ireland is also one of the four unions that make up the British and Irish Lions – players eligible to play for Ireland are also eligible for the Lions, Irelands highest ever position in the World Rugby Rankings is second, which they reached for the first time in 2015. Dublin University was the first organised football club in Ireland. The club was organised by students who had learnt the game while at public schools in Great Britain, carlow, UCC, and Ballinasloe which amalgamated with Athlone to form Buccaneers. In 1874, the Irish Football Union was formed, Ireland lost their first test match against England 7–0 at the Oval on 15 February 1875. Both teams fielded 20 players in match, as was customary in the early years of rugby union. Irelands first home game was also against England in the year held at the Leinster Cricket Club in Rathmines as Lansdowne Road was deemed unsuitable. The first match at Lansdowne Road was held on 11 March 1878 and it was not until 1881 that Ireland first won a test, beating Scotland at Ormeau in Belfast. Ireland turned up two men short for their game in Cardiff in 1884 and had to borrow two Welsh players, the first victory Ireland had at Lansdowne Road took place on 5 February 1887. It was also their first win over England, by two goals to nil, on the third of March 1888, Ireland recorded their first win over Wales with a goal, a try and a drop goal to nil. In 1894, Ireland followed the Welsh model of using seven backs instead of six for the first time, after victory over England at Blackheath, Ireland won back-to-back matches for the first time when recording their first win over Scotland on 24 February 1894. Ireland went on to beat Wales in Belfast and win the Triple Crown for the first time, in the 1890s, Rugby was primarily a game for the Protestant middle class, the only Catholic in Edmund Forrests 1894 team was Tom Crean. Of the eighteen players used in the three games, thirteen were from three Dublin clubs – Wanderers, Dublin University and Bective Rangers – and the five were from Ulster. Such was the level of interest in the visit of the first All Blacks team to Dublin in November 1905 that the IRFU made the match the first all-ticket rugby international in history, Ireland played only seven forwards, copying the then New Zealand method of playing a rover. The game ended New Zealand 15 Ireland 0, on 20 March 1909, Ireland played France for the first time, beating them 19–8. This was Irelands biggest victory in international rugby at that time, their highest points tally,30 November 1912 was the first time the Springboks met Ireland at Lansdowne Road, the 1906 tour game having been played at Ravenhill. Ireland with seven new caps were overwhelmed by a margin of 38–0

3.
Wales national rugby union team
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The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy, Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 26 times outright. Wales most recent championship win came in 2013, the governing body, the Welsh Rugby Union, was established in 1881, the same year that Wales played their first international against England. Wales performances in the Home Nations Championship continued to improve, experiencing their first golden age between 1900 and 1911 and they first played New Zealand, known as the All Blacks, in 1905, when they defeated them 3–0 in a famous match at Cardiff Arms Park. Welsh rugby struggled between the two World Wars, but experienced a golden age between 1969 and 1980 when they won eight Five Nations Championships. Wales played in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 where they achieved their best ever result of third, following the sport allowing professionalism in 1995, Wales hosted the 1999 World Cup and, in 2005, won their first Six Nations Grand Slam. That was the first Grand Slam won by a team playing most of the matches away from home, Wales won two more Grand Slams in 2008 and in 2012, and in 2011 came fourth in the Rugby World Cup. Their home ground is the Millennium Stadium, currently known for reasons as Principality Stadium. Eight former Welsh players have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, Rugby union took root in Wales in 1850, when Reverend Rowland Williams became Vice-Principal at St Davids College, Lampeter, where he introduced the sport. Wales played their first international on 19 February 1881, organised by Newports Richard Mullock, Wales played against England, losing by seven goals, one drop goal, on 12 March 1881, the Welsh Rugby Union was formed at The Castle Hotel, Neath. Two years later, the Home Nation Championship – now the Six Nations Championship – was first played, however, rugby in Wales developed and, by the 1890s, the Welsh had developed the four three-quarters formation. This formation – with seven backs and eight forwards, instead of six backs and nine forwards – revolutionised the sport and was adopted almost universally at international. With the four three-quarter formation Wales became Home International Champions for the first time in 1893, Wales next won the Championship in 1900, heralding the first golden age of Welsh rugby which was to last until 1911. They won two more Triple Crowns in 1902 and 1905, and were runners up in 1901,1903 and 1904, when Wales faced New Zealands All Blacks at Cardiff Arms Park in late 1905 they had not lost at home since 1899. The referee ruled a scrum to Wales and the score did not change, the loss was the All Blacks only loss on their 35-match tour. In 1906, Wales again won the Home Championship, and later that played the South African national side. Wales were favourites to win the match, but instead South Africa dominated in the forwards, two years later, on 12 December 1908, Wales played the touring Australians, the Wallabies, who they defeated 9–6. In 1909, Wales won the Home Championship and then, in 1910 – with the inclusion of France – the first Five Nations and it would be nearly forty years before they achieved a Grand Slam again

4.
Scotland national rugby union team
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The Scotland national rugby union team represents Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union, the team takes part in the annual Six Nations Championship and participates in the Rugby World Cup, which takes place every four years. As of 27 February 2017, Scotland are fifth in the World Rugby Rankings, the Scottish rugby team dates back to 1871, where they beat England in the first international rugby union match at Raeburn Place. Scotland competed in the Five Nations from the tournament in 1883. In 2000 the competition accepted a sixth competitor, Italy, thus forming the Six Nations, since this change, Scotland have yet to win the competition. Their best finish came in 1991, where they lost to the All Blacks in the third place play-off, Scotland have a strong rivalry with the English national team. They both annually compete for the Calcutta Cup, each year, this fixture is played out as part of the Six Nations, and Scotland last won it in 2008. In December 1870 a group of Scots players issued a letter of challenge in The Scotsman and in Bells Life in London, in front of around 4000 spectators, the Scots won the encounter by a try and a goal to a solitary try scored by England. England later got revenge by winning the match at the Kennington Oval. The Calcutta Cup was donated to the Rugby Football Union in 1878 by the members of the short-lived Calcutta Rugby Club, the members had decided to disband, the cup was crafted from melted-down silver rupees which became available when the Clubs funds were withdrawn from the bank. The Cup is unique in that it is competed for only by England and Scotland. The first Calcutta Cup match was played in 1879 and, since that time, in 1882 the Home Nations Championship, the fore-runner of the modern Six Nations Championship was founded with Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland taking part. Further Triple Crowns wins for Scotland followed in 1901,1903 and 1907, however, Scotlands triumph in 1907 would be the last for eighteen years as the First World War and Englands dominance afterwards would deny them glory. In 1897 land was purchased, by the SFU, at Inverleith, thus the SFU became the first of the Home Unions to own its own ground. The first visitors were Ireland, on 18 February 1899, international rugby was played at Inverleith until 1925. The SFU bought some land and built the first Murrayfield Stadium which was opened on 21 March 1925, in 1925 Scotland already had victories over France at Inverleith, Wales in Swansea and Ireland in Dublin. England, the Grand Slam champions of the two seasons were the first visitors to Murrayfield. 70,000 spectators saw the lead change three times before Scotland secured a 14–11 victory which gave them their first-ever Five Nations Grand Slam

5.
Canada national rugby union team
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The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red, Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and thirteen tier two nations, Canada competes in competitions such as the Pacific Nations Cup and the Rugby World Cup. Canada has been playing rugby since the early 1930s, making their debut in 1932 against Japan. Canada have competed at every World Cup since the tournament was first staged in 1987, Canada achieved their best result at the World Cup in 1991, where they reached the quarter-finals. Canada is a dominant power of North American rugby and currently third in the Americas after Argentina. The team has achieved victories over traditionally stronger Six Nations teams such as France, Wales, Italy, Canada is currently ranked 22nd in the IRB World Rankings. In 2013, Canada joined the IRB Pacific Nations Cup, playing matches against Fiji, Tonga, Japan, in 1874 the first North American international game took place in Cambridge, Massachusetts between McGill and Harvard universities. Later that same year a game was played, but this time Harvard were the hosts. A Canadian Rugby Football Union was established in 1884, although this went on to become the Canadian Football League. In 1902–1903 the first Canadian team toured Britain, in 1909, Earl Grey, then Governor General of Canada, donated a trophy to the CRU to be awarded for the Rugby Football Championship of Canada. This trophy became known as the Grey Cup, however the rules used in Canada were vastly different from the rules used in countries that were part of the IRB. In the years followed, the CRU would legalise forward passing and make other changes that would make Canadian football a totally different sport. During World War I and II rugby union was suspended but in the period there was something of a renaissance. In 1919 a Canadian Services team played overseas against representatives from England, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. The formation of the Rugby Union of Canada took place in 1929, about half the team were Canadian born and the rest were originally from Britain. They lost 9–8 and 38–5 in the two test matches, the original Canadian Rugby Union disbanded just before World War I. Canadas team to the United Kingdom in 1962 was dominated by British Columbia players, the Rugby Union of Canada was re-formed in 1965 as the Canadian Rugby Union

6.
Scottish Rugby Union
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The Scottish Rugby Union, or Aonadh Rugbaidh na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic, is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having founded in 1873. The SRU oversees the league system, known as the Scottish League Championship. The SRU is headed by the President and Chairman, with Mark Dodson acting as the Chief Executive Officer, the Scottish Football Union was founded on Monday 3 March 1873 at a meeting held at Glasgow Academy, Elmbank Street, Glasgow. Eight clubs were represented at the foundation, Glasgow Academicals, Edinburgh Academical Football Club, University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club, Royal High School FP, Merchistonians, Edinburgh University RFC, and Glasgow University. Five of these clubs were, at the time of founding the Scottish Football Union, although the RFU now represents exclusively English clubs, in its first few years it had members from outside England, there being no other national union. West of Scotland, Glasgow Academicals and Edinburgh University had joined the RFU in 1871 and Edinburgh Academicals and these five renounced membership of the RFU to join the SFU. The SFU was a member of the International Rugby Football Board, now known as World Rugby, in 1886 with Ireland. In 1924 the SFU changed its name to become the Scottish Rugby Union, International games were played at Inverleith from 1899 to 1925 when Murrayfield was opened. The four traditional districts—the South, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the North & Midlands —were given the go-ahead to take part in Europe, for the first two seasons, players were still released to play for their clubs in domestic competition, but eventually the districts became full-time operations. Then financial difficulties—the SRUs high debt, partly as a result of the redevelopment of Murrayfield—called for retrenchment, after two seasons, financial difficulties forced the SRU to merge the four teams into two. Edinburgh merged with the Border Reivers to form a team to be known as Edinburgh Reivers, Glasgow merged with Caledonian to form a team to be known as Glasgow Caledonian. The Borders was resurrected in 2002 and joined the season of the Celtic League. As a consequence Edinburgh Reivers became simply Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow became Glasgow Rugby, in 2005, all three teams adopted new names. The Borders readopted the name Border Reivers, Edinburgh became Edinburgh Gunners, but would revert to Edinburgh in 2006, furthermore, the SRU planned to have a world class rugby side for each city or large town in Scotland, when financial circumstances permitted. In 2007, The Borders team was disbanded yet again as a result of continuing financial difficulties, in the same year, the SRU began organising the Scotland Sevens, first held in Edinburgh and later in Glasgow. For several years, it was the event in the annual Sevens World Series. On 21 November 2009 Scotland beat Australia 9–8 after 17 attempts in 27 years, in the Season 2010–11 the SRU had a contractual dispute with the Season Ticket Holders of Edinburgh Rugby

7.
James Pritchard (rugby)
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James Gordon Pritchard is an Australian-Canadian rugby union player and former rugby league footballer, who currently plays his club rugby union for the Bedford Blues, and internationally for Canada. He is also a part-time backs coach at Luton Rugby Club Pritchard was born in Parkes, New South Wales, Australia and started in rugby league football at the age of 13. In his first year of First grade with the club he picked up the Ron Don Trophy for Most Improved as well as being runner-up in the Sydney Morning Herald Rookie of The Year Awards. He also finished the top scorer in the competition with 183 points in ten games. He played mainly at fullback or the wing but whatever number he wore on his shirt his authority, for him personally, 2010–11 was probably his best in a Bedford career that started when he was signed in 2001 from the Randwick club in Australia. James Pritchard has played international matches as a Bedford player then anyone save Budge Rodgers. By the end of the 2010–11 Championship season in England he had played 33 times for Canada –28 of them as a Bedford player – and had scored 332 international points. And he was in form as captain of the Blues, having just set another record. Add to that 181 appearances and the second highest career total of points in 125 years - including 65 tries - and its clear he belongs among Bedfords all-time greats. In his second season, 2002–03, he broke the record with 386, in league and cup, in just 27 games. His 374 in the league season was still a record in 2011 when he regained the overall club record with 403. His early success convinced him to try to make the Canada squad for the 2003 World Cup and he joined Plymouth Albion in August 2004 and scored 319 points for them in 29 consecutive appearances. His last match for Albion was against Bedford in the 2005 Powergen Challenge Shield Final at Twickenham where he broke his collarbone in the 16th minute. He was recalled to the Canadian team in 2006 setting a new record of 36 points in a match against the USA and then played in all four pool games in the 2007 World Cup in France. On 7 May 2011, Pritchard passed the 400 point mark for the 2010-11 RFU Championship season and he finished the season with 403 points. For the third time in his career he was named Player of the season for the club. With a grandfather from Ruthilda, Saskatchewan, Pritchard came to Canada to play for the Rugby Canada Super League side Prairie Fire in 2003, and to pursue a 2003 Rugby World Cup place with Canada. After a few years in the wilderness, Pritchard was recalled for Canada in 2006

8.
Julien Bardy
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Julien de Sousa Bardy is a French-born Portuguese rugby union player. He plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 since 2009/10 and he is of Portuguese descent and decided to represent Portugal, since 2008. He has 24 caps, with 5 tries scored,25 points on aggregate

9.
Jebb Sinclair
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Jebb Sinclair is a Canadian rugby union player who plays for London Irish. Sinclair plays as a flanker but can provide cover in the second row. Jebb made his debut for the Canadian national rugby team against Portugal while on Canadas 2008 tour of Europe, Sinclair has previously played with the Fredericton Loyalists, Castaway Wanderers RFC, RGC1404 in North Wales, and The Rock of the Canadian Rugby Championship. On July 8,2011 Rugby Canada released its 30-man squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup which included Sinclair, the 2011 event will be Sinclairs first World Cup. In May 2012, he joined Super Rugby team the Stormers on a loan deal. At the end of the 2012 Super Rugby season, it was announced he would stay on in South Africa to play for Western Province in the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division. Sinclair became the second Canadian international to win the Currie Cup following dual South African and Canadian international Christian Stewart, both Sinclair and Stewart achieved this in the colours of Western Province

10.
Nathan Hirayama
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Nathan Hirayama is a Canadian rugby union player who plays at fly-half as well as can provide cover at fullback. Hirayama currently plays for the University of Victoria in the British Columbia Premiership and he made his debut for the Canadian sevens team in the 2006 Dubai Sevens in the IRB Series at 18. Two years later he debuted for the Canadian national mens team against Portugal in Lisbon, Hirayama was selected for the Canadian national team to attend the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups although he did not play any games in 2007. He was selected for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Russia helping Canada to win the Plate competition, together they are the first-ever rugby-playing father/son duo for Canada. Rugby Canada Profile ESPN Scrum Profile 2011 RWC Profile

11.
Portugal
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Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. It is the westernmost country of mainland Europe, to the west and south it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east and north by Spain. The Portugal–Spain border is 1,214 kilometres long and considered the longest uninterrupted border within the European Union, the republic also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, both autonomous regions with their own regional governments. The territory of modern Portugal has been settled, invaded. The Pre-Celts, Celts, Carthaginians and the Romans were followed by the invasions of the Visigothic, in 711 the Iberian Peninsula was invaded by the Moors, making Portugal part of Muslim Al Andalus. Portugal was born as result of the Christian Reconquista, and in 1139, Afonso Henriques was proclaimed King of Portugal, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal established the first global empire, becoming one of the worlds major economic, political and military powers. Portugal monopolized the trade during this time, and the Portuguese Empire expanded with military campaigns led in Asia. After the 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy, the democratic but unstable Portuguese First Republic was established, democracy was restored after the Portuguese Colonial War and the Carnation Revolution in 1974. Shortly after, independence was granted to almost all its overseas territories, Portugal has left a profound cultural and architectural influence across the globe and a legacy of over 250 million Portuguese speakers today. Portugal is a country with a high-income advanced economy and a high living standard. It is the 5th most peaceful country in the world, maintaining a unitary semi-presidential republican form of government and it has the 18th highest Social Progress in the world, putting it ahead of other Western European countries like France, Spain and Italy. Portugal is a pioneer when it comes to drug decriminalization, as the nation decriminalized the possession of all drugs for use in 2001. The early history of Portugal is shared with the rest of the Iberian Peninsula located in South Western Europe, the name of Portugal derives from the joined Romano-Celtic name Portus Cale. Other influences include some 5th-century vestiges of Alan settlements, which were found in Alenquer, Coimbra, the region of present-day Portugal was inhabited by Neanderthals and then by Homo sapiens, who roamed the border-less region of the northern Iberian peninsula. These were subsistence societies that, although they did not establish prosperous settlements, neolithic Portugal experimented with domestication of herding animals, the raising of some cereal crops and fluvial or marine fishing. Chief among these tribes were the Calaicians or Gallaeci of Northern Portugal, the Lusitanians of central Portugal, the Celtici of Alentejo, a few small, semi-permanent, commercial coastal settlements were also founded in the Algarve region by Phoenicians-Carthaginians. Romans first invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 219 BC, during the last days of Julius Caesar, almost the entire peninsula had been annexed to the Roman Republic. The Carthaginians, Romes adversary in the Punic Wars, were expelled from their coastal colonies and it suffered a severe setback in 150 BC, when a rebellion began in the north

12.
Kieran Crowley
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Kieran James Crowley is a New Zealand rugby union coach, who was previously head coach of the Canadian mens rugby team. He is now the coach of Italian side Benetton Treviso. He is a member of the New Zealand All Blacks where he played as a fullback. He has also coached the New Zealand Under-19s in the 2007 World Championships as well as coaching provincial side Taranaki, Crowley first started playing rugby for his school, Sacred Heart College, in Auckland, where he was in the 1st XV in 1977. In 1979, he was selected for the 1979 North Island Under-18 team and the year made his Taranaki debut as an 18-year-old, playing variously at fullback, wing. He also appeared for the New Zealand Colts team in 1980, after a New Zealand trial in 1982 and playing for the North Island, n 1983 Kieran Crowley came into the All Black side for their 1983 British Isles tour. He was a call up to the side, haven replaced Allan Hewson who injured himself in training prior to the teams departure. He failed to any appearance in the test side, but did play against South of Scotland team in Galashiels to make his first All Blacks appearance. He made further two appearances, winning 18–15 and 18–6 against London Division and South and South-West Counties respectively. He gained his first taste of international opposition against Fiji on 27 October 1984, however the All Blacks fielded an All Blacks XV side, Crowley received his first international cap on 1 June 1985 against England in Christchurch, winning 18–13. He appeared in tests against Australia and Argentina that year, and against Australia, Kieran Crowley continued to play for Taranaki until 1994, becoming its leading points scorer and one of the few players to play 200 games for his Union. He was made a member of the Taranaki RFU in 1993. Crowley also played cricket for Taranaki in the Hawke Cup and for Central Districts in one season of the Brabin cup competition, Rugby World Cup Winners,1987 Bledisloe Cup Winners,1985,1990,1991 Crowley was coach of the Taranaki provincial side from 1998 to 2007. From 2002 to 2003 he also acted as a selector for the All Blacks, in March 2008, Rugby Canada announced that Crowley would be replacing Ric Suggitt as head coach of the Canadian national team. On his announcement, he recognized that Canada was always recognized as a physical side and his first match in charge was against Scotland A in the 2008 Churchill Cup. Canada lost 24–10, then lost 17–16 to an Argentina XV side and his first official test match came on 21 June 2008 against the United States in Chicago, in the bowl final. On that occasion, Canada won 26–10, in November of that year, Crowley led Canada to a 4-match tour of Europe which included 3 tier 1 oppositions, the most Canada has ever faced on 1 tour. The first match of the tour, was a first ever encounter against Portugal, however, the final three match saw Canada score just 13 points, with Canada failing to score any points against Ireland, and Scotland

13.
New Zealand
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New Zealand /njuːˈziːlənd/ is an island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu—and around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, the countrys varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealands capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland, sometime between 1250 and 1300 CE, Polynesians settled in the islands that later were named New Zealand and developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand, in 1840, representatives of Britain and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire, today, the majority of New Zealands population of 4.7 million is of European descent, the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealands culture is derived from Māori and early British settlers. The official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, New Zealand is a developed country and ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as health, education, economic freedom and quality of life. Since the 1980s, New Zealand has transformed from an agrarian, Queen Elizabeth II is the countrys head of state and is represented by a governor-general. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes, the Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau, the Cook Islands and Niue, and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealands territorial claim in Antarctica. New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Pacific Islands Forum, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sighted New Zealand in 1642 and called it Staten Landt, in 1645, Dutch cartographers renamed the land Nova Zeelandia after the Dutch province of Zeeland. British explorer James Cook subsequently anglicised the name to New Zealand, Aotearoa is the current Māori name for New Zealand. It is unknown whether Māori had a name for the country before the arrival of Europeans. Māori had several names for the two main islands, including Te Ika-a-Māui for the North Island and Te Waipounamu or Te Waka o Aoraki for the South Island. Early European maps labelled the islands North, Middle and South, in 1830, maps began to use North and South to distinguish the two largest islands and by 1907, this was the accepted norm. The New Zealand Geographic Board discovered in 2009 that the names of the North Island and South Island had never been formalised and this set the names as North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui, and South Island or Te Waipounamu

14.
Thomond Park
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Thomond Park is a stadium located in Limerick in the Irish province of Munster. The stadium is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union and count Munster Rugby, Shannon RFC, Limerick FC played home games in Thomond Park from 2013 to 2015 in the League of Ireland while the Markets Field was being redeveloped. The capacity of the stadium is 25,630 following its large scale redevelopment in 2008, the stadium holds a special place in rugby due to its own unique history and atmosphere. The stadium is famed for its noise during play and the silence while home. It is at Thomond park that Munster celebrated their 12–0 victory over the All Blacks in 1978, Thomond Park originally consisted of two pitches, the main pitch and a training pitch. The main pitch was bounded on all sides by terracing with a stand located above the west terrace, the training pitch was located behind the west stand with the Shannon R. F. C. Pavilion located in the southwest corner of the ground, pavilion was located within the west stand. Traditionally, the terracing and four sides of the pitch had local nicknames. The most famous of these was the east terrace which was known among fans as the Popular side, the highest pre-redevelopment official attendance in Thomond Park was 18,000 people and occurred in 1992 in a local derby in the All-Ireland League between clubs Shannon RFC and Garryowen FC. In January 2006, the Munster Branch of the IRFU made offers to buy some adjacent houses to expand the stadium. In March 2006 the IRFU and Munster Rugby announced that Thomond Park was unanimously selected for the site of the new stadium. Work started in early 2007, and the project was completed for a re-opening in Autumn 2008. The principal elements of the saw the erection of two new stands adjacent to the existing main pitch, with a seating capacity of 15,100 and terrace capacity of 10,530. It was thought that Thomond Park would be renamed in a sponsorship deal, however, it was confirmed in February 2008 that the name Thomond Park would remain the same, with naming rights being sold for the individual stands instead. Thomond Park is well known for its unique atmosphere, during a rugby match, the home fans can be heard singing songs such as The Fields Of Athenry and Stand Up And Fight. These two songs play a role in Munster rugby as they are Munsters anthems. Donal Spring, one of the heroes of 1978, credits the spectators for its unique ethos, of all the places I’ve played, playing with Munster at Thomond Park is what I’ve enjoyed most. The home crowd is also famous for its silence when a kicker is kicking for goal

15.
French Rugby Federation
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The French Rugby Federation is the governing body for rugby union in France. It is responsible for the French national team and the Ligue nationale de rugby that administers the countrys professional leagues and it was formed in 1919 and is affiliated to World Rugby, the sports governing body. It included the teams of Italy, French national team, Catalonia, Czechoslovakia, Romania. Following German occupation, FFR officials closely associated with the Vichy government lobbied to have certain un-French sports banned, between the end of 1940 and the middle of 1942, one semi-professional and at least six French Amateur Sport Federations were banned and destroyed by the Vichy regime. These actions were independently verified by the French government in 2002, in 1978 the Federation became a member of the IRFB, which later became the International Rugby Board and is now World Rugby. France national rugby union team Ligue Nationale de Rugby List of rugby clubs in France Official site

16.
Keith Earls
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Keith Gerard Earls is an Irish rugby union player for Munster in the Pro12 and European Rugby Champions Cup. Internationally, Earls plays for Ireland and represented the British and Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa and he plays as a Centre, Wing or Fullback. He won a Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup medal with St. Munchins College in 2006, Earls made his Munster debut against Ospreys in April 2007. During the 2007-08 season, Earls was part of the Munster squad that beat Toulouse in the 2008 Heineken Cup Final, Earls started against Northampton Saints in 31-27 Round 1 2009–10 Heineken Cup defeat on 10 October 2009. Earls also started the 41-10 Round 2 win against Treviso on 17 October 2009 and he then started the 24-23 Round 3 win against USA Perpignan on 11 December 2009. He also started the reverse Round 4 fixture on 20 December 2009, Earls scored two tries in the Round 5 7-44 win against Treviso on 16 January 2010. Earls also started the 12-9 Round 6 victory against Northampton Saints on 22 January 2010, Earls then started the 33-19 quarter-final victory, also against Northampton, on 10 April 2010. Earls scored a try in Munsters 18-7 semi-final defeat at the hands on Biarritz on 2 May 2010 and he played for Munster during their historic 15–6 win over Australia on 16 November 2010. Earls was also part of the Munster team that beat Leinster to win the 2011 Magners League Grand Final and he injured his knee in the first minute of Munsters Rabo Direct Pro12 match against Leinster on 4 November 2011, and was ruled out for 4–6 weeks. He made his return against Scarlets in Munsters Heineken Cup Round 4 fixture on 18 December 2011, Earls also started against Castres Olympique on 14 January 2012. He also started in Munsters 26-51 win against Northampton Saints on 21 January 2012, Earls started in Munsters 2011–12 Heineken Cup quarter-final loss to Ulster on 8 April 2012. He also started for Munster in their 45-10 defeat against Ospreys in the semi-final of the 2011–12 Pro 12, Earls started against Saracens on 8 December 2012. He also started against Edinburgh on 13 January 2013, Earls started against Racing Metro 92 on 20 January 2013. Earls started Munsters 16-10 2012–13 Heineken Cup semi-final defeat against ASM Clermont Auvergne on 27 April 2013, Earls scored a try in Munsters 19-15 victory against Leinster on 5 October 2013. He started in the 29-23 loss to Edinburgh in Round 1 of the 2013–14 Heineken Cup on 12 October 2013 and he also started the 26-10 win against Gloucester in Round 2 on 19 October 2013. He won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munsters Round 3 36-8 win against USA Perpignan on 8 December 2013, Earls also started the reverse fixture away to Perpignan on 14 December 2013. He started the 7-20 away win against Gloucester on 11 January 2013, Earls started against Edinburgh in the Round 6 fixture on 19 January 2014, but went off injured in the first-half. It was announced on 21 January 2014 that Earls had signed a new two-year contract, after having a scan on the injury he suffered in the Edinburgh game, Earls was ruled out for 6–8 weeks

17.
Tommy Bowe
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Thomas John Tommy Bowe is an Irish rugby union player from County Monaghan, Ireland. He plays on the wing for the Ulster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions, in March 2012, after four years with Ospreys in Swansea, Wales, Bowe returned to Ulster for the 2012/13 season. A former pupil of The Royal School, Armagh, Bowe was a schoolboy provincial full-back and he represented Monaghan at U16 and Minor level. As well as playing Gaelic football, he played rugby with Monaghan RFC at underage levels as well as representing his primary school team. He attended the University of Ulster, Jordanstown and played for the Queens University Belfast rugby team and he subsequently was capped at U21 level and was named as the Irish Rugby Union Players Association Young Player of the Year in 2003. Bowe received a call-up to the Ulster squad at the end of the 2003–04 season, scoring on his debut against Connacht and he won the Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year Award at the Ulster Rugby Awards Dinner in May 2005. On 25 January 2008 he confirmed that he would leave Ulster at the end of the 2008 Celtic League season, in 2008, he won both the Ulster and Ireland Player of the Year awards. In December 2009 it was announced that Bowe had signed a 3-year extension with the Ospreys and he returned to Ulster at the start of the 2012/13 season on a 3-year deal. He scored 2 tries on his return for Ulster against Cardiff Blues and was instrumental in the league season. Bowe won further caps during Irelands tour to Japan and their Autumn Internationals in 2005, after Irelands poor first half against France in the following Championship match, Bowe was axed from the squad – prompting allegations of him being made a scapegoat by Ireland boss Eddie OSullivan. An injury-plagued latter part of 2006 precipitated a downturn in form and he failed to make the Irish squad for the disappointing 2007 Rugby World Cup. Bowe earned himself a place in Irelands original 2008 Six Nations squad after a good season with Ulster. He was overlooked for the Ireland match day squad to play Italy in the opening game, however. He then played in the losses to Wales and England, on the 4th February Bowe came on for Keith Earls as a replacement in the 2017 Six Nations Championship against Scotland national rugby union team. With his good form for the Ospreys continuing in 2008 Bowe retained his position for Ireland during the Autumn internationals. Bowe was then selected on the wing for the 2009 Six Nations opener against France in Dublin, Bowe impressed as Ireland claimed their first win over France in six years with 30–21 triumph. Their next game was against Italy, despite a performance that was below par, Bowe scored a try as Ireland romped to a 38–9 win. After wins against England and Scotland, Ireland took on Wales with a slam at stake

18.
Brian O'Driscoll
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Brian Gerald ODriscoll is an Irish former professional rugby union player. Registered at University College Dublin R. F. C and he played at outside centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster and formerly for Ireland. He captained Ireland from 2003 until 2012, and captained the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand and he is regarded by critics as one of the greatest rugby union players of all time. ODriscoll is the second most-capped player in rugby history, having played 141 test matches –133 for Ireland. He scored 46 tries for Ireland and 1 try for the Lions in 2001 and he is the 8th-highest try scorer in international rugby union history, and the highest scoring centre of all time. ODriscoll holds the Six Nations record for most tries scored with 26 and he has scored the most Heineken Cup tries for an Irishman. ODriscoll was chosen as Player of the Tournament in the 2006,2007 and 2009 Six Nations Championships, ODriscoll was born in Dublin to Frank and Geraldine ODriscoll, both physicians. ODriscoll hails from a family steeped in rugby and his father, Frank, played two games for Ireland and an uncle, Barry, won four caps. As a child, he played Gaelic football before moving to rugby, for his secondary education he attended Blackrock College, where he played on the Senior Cup team in 1996 and 1997. He captained the School in 1997, but they were beaten in the Quarter-final by Clongowes and he was capped three times for Ireland Schools in 1996. In 1998, ODriscoll played for the Ireland U-19 side, which won the Under 19 Rugby World Championship, after leaving school, he attended UCD on a scholarship. At UCD, he first made the side, before being promoted to the top team near the end of his first year. After two years, ODriscoll graduated from UCD with a diploma in sports management, while at UCD, John McClean moved ODriscoll from the fly-half position to centre. ODriscoll made his Ireland under-21 debut in February 1999, and eventually gained four caps, in 2001, Leinster won the inaugural Celtic League beating Munster in Lansdowne Road. In 2003, Leinster were heavy favourites for that years Heineken Cup but were beaten by Perpignan in the semi-finals, Leinster appointed Michael Cheika in the summer of 2005 and despite rumours of ODriscoll moving to France, ODriscoll agreed to another year in Ireland. That year, ODriscoll returning from an injury suffered on the Lions tour. Under backs coach David Knox and the movement of Argentine international Felipe Contepomi to fly half, ODriscoll excelled in wins over Bath Rugby and Toulouse away from home. These victories would set up an Heineken Cup semi-final in Lansdowne Road against Munster, Leinster were also denied a Magners League title, with David Humphreys of Ulster slotting an injury time drop goal to give victory to Ulster in their final game of the season

19.
Luke Fitzgerald
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Luke Matthew Fitzgerald is a former rugby union player. He played at winger or fullback for Leinster, having previously studied at Blackrock College he won two Leinster Schools Senior Cups, in 2004 and 2006. He won his first cap for Ireland in November 2006, Fitzgerald has earned the nickname Pivot from Leinster and Irish rugby fans due to his exciting runs and sidesteps from broken play. On 28 June 2016, Fitzgerald announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect. He had suffered an injury in the 2016 Pro12 Final and had been advised to retire on medical grounds. An Irish speaker, Fitzgerald has a particular interest in the language and he played hurling at underage level. In Gaelic football, he is a fan of the Dublin senior football team and he played Gaelic Football while he was growing up at Naomh Olafs GAA Club. Fitzgeralds father Des also played rugby for Ireland, earning 34 caps at prop between 1984 and 1992. Fitzgerald played for the Blackrock College Senior Cup Team from 2004 to 2006 and he also won a Leinster Junior Cup Medal in 2003, beating Gonzaga College in the final. He was the 2005 Irish Examiner Young Rugby Player of the Year, after leaving school, Fitzgerald joined renowned south Dublin club Blackrock College RFC, a natural transition from schools to club rugby. Fitzgerald played four matches for the Leinster Schools Representative team, in his fifth year Fitzgerald played three games for the Irish Schools team. While in his final year he played three matches for the Leinster Under 19s, all as Captain and he also won the Irish Examiner Young Player of the Year for the 2005/06 season. After leaving school Fitzgerald has become a regular in the Leinster Magners League squad and he scored his first try for the province against Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup, having come on as a substitute in a game Leinster ultimately lost 25–24. Fitzgerald was part of the Leinster team who beat Leicester Tigers to win the 2008–09 Heineken Cup, in October 2006 he was named in the Ireland squad for the Autumn series of internationals. After a strong performance against the Mid Week Wallabies playing for Ireland A he won his first cap on 26 November 2006 against the Pacific Islands, in doing so, he became the youngest player to play for Ireland in 29 years. He also became the 999th player to be capped for Ireland, after much public demand Fitzgerald was finally given a chance in the centre during Irelands recent match with the Barbarians. He had a fine game putting in a lot of tackles and he was due to earn a second cap in the centre against the All Blacks. His centre partner would have been Brian ODriscoll and he was forced to withdraw from this match due to an ankle injury